African Trade [15c-17c]
Pre-19c European Trade with Africa
European Explorers in Africa 19c Europeans Map the Interior of Africa
Industrial Revolution Source for Raw Materials Markets for Finished Goods European Nationalism Missionary Activity Military & Naval Bases European Motives For Colonization Places to Dump Unwanted/ Excess Popul. Humanitarian Reasons European Racism “White Man’s Burden” Social Darwinism
Berlin Conference of
European Colonization How? Treaty of Berlin (1884, Otto Von Bismarck) –“Scramble for Africa” : Assured all countries access to key water ways (Niger, Nile, Congo) Suppress the internal slave trade Ban on fire arm sales to Africans… Agreed on who would control what territory… –This treaty creates false borders within Africa (based on Colonial interests, not tribal custom…)
By 1914, there were only two independent countries left in all of Africa. “We do not want to put anyone in the shade, but we also demand our place in the sun” –Germany
The Congo Free State ( )
King Leopold II: (r – 1909)
Harvesting Rubber
Punishing “Lazy” Workers
5-8 Million Victims! (50% of Popul.) It is blood-curdling to see them (the soldiers) returning with the hands of the slain, and to find the hands of young children amongst the bigger ones evidencing their bravery...The rubber from this district has cost hundreds of lives, and the scenes I have witnessed, while unable to help the oppressed, have been almost enough to make me wish I were dead... This rubber traffic is steeped in blood, and if the natives were to rise and sweep every white person on the Upper Congo into eternity, there would still be left a fearful balance to their credit. -- Belgian Official
Belgium’s Stranglehold on the Congo
Leopold’s Conscience??
The Zulu The Zulu people resisted colonization for more than 50 years In the early 1800s, Zulu leader Shaka built a strong kingdom By 1879, the British invaded Zulu territory… the British won in 6 months
French West Africa In West Africa, tribes organized to fight the French Without modern weapons they fought the French for 15 years- kingdom of Guinea (conquered in 1898)
German East Africa Africans called upon their gods and ancestors for guidance In 1905 several African tribes united in rebellion Spiritual leaders used magic water (maji) to stop bullets The rebellion was quickly ended by the Germans, killing tens of thousands of Africans…
Why didn’t the rebellions succeed?
Leopold Defends Himself in Paris, 1903 King Leopold: How about that! John Bull (GB) claims that I tortured, robbed and murdered more than he did... French Minister : No, your Majesty, that's impossible.